School closure consultation
Consultation on the closure of 2 schools in 2024
Brighton & Hove City Council consulted on the proposal to close two of our one form entry primary schools by the end of August 2024.
The 2 schools affected are:
- St Bartholomew’s C of E Primary School
- St Peter’s Community Primary School
The consultation opened on 7 November 2023. The closing date for responses was 22 December 2023.
Respondents were asked the following questions:
Do you agree that the council should reduce the total number of surplus school spaces in the city?
With the options to strongly agree/tend to agree/neither agree nor disagree/tend to disagree/strongly disagree and don’t know/not sure.
Any comments or reasons for your answer? With a free text box available for responses.
Responders were then given the option to comment on only one proposal or both closure proposals with the questions:
Do you agree or disagree with the proposal to close St Bartholomew’s C of E Primary School by September 2024? With the options to strongly agree/tend to agree/neither agree nor disagree/tend to disagree/strongly disagree and don’t know/not sure.
Any comments or reasons for your answer? With a free text box available for responses.
Do you agree or disagree with the proposal to close St Peter’s Community Primary School by September 2024? With the options to strongly agree/tend to agree/neither agree nor disagree/tend to disagree/strongly disagree and don’t know/not sure.
Any comments or reasons for your answer? With a free text box available for responses.
Reasons for the proposed closures
In the Census 2021, it was revealed that there was a 22% drop in children aged 0 to 4 living in Brighton & Hove in the 2021 census compared to the 2011 census.
Brighton & Hove City Council’s own projection of pupil numbers starting Reception in the coming years forecasts that there will be 651 excess places in 2025 and 662 excess places in 2026. This will mean Brighton & Hove will have over 25% surplus capacity.
In response to the fall in pupil numbers Brighton & Hove City Council is proposing the closure of 2 schools and the reduction in the Published Admission Number of 9 schools from September 2025. This will mean a total reduction of 300 primary school places.
Read more about the school admissions consultation.
Too many spare school places in the city will result in some schools not getting enough pupils attending. As schools are mostly funded on pupil numbers, if they do not have enough pupils attending, they may not be able to operate in a financially efficient way.
These proposals were discussed at the Children, Families and Schools meeting on 6th November.
Send an email to schoolorganisation@brighton-hove.gov.uk if you would like a copy of:
- the presentations that the Council has made at the public meetings
- a link to a recording
- a transcript of the meeting
Timeline for school closure consultation
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 7 November 2023 to 22 December 2023 | Consultation on the proposal to close schools |
| 22 January 2024 | The Children Families and Schools Committee considers the result of the consultation - a decision is made on whether to publish a statutory notice for the closure of St Bartholomew’s and/or St Peters |
| 23 January 2024 | Statutory Notice is published followed by a 4-week period in which representations can be made |
| February 2024 | The outcome of the statutory notice period is considered by the Children Families and Schools Committee and a recommendation is made to the full council |
| March 2024 | The full council makes a decision on the proposal |
| 31 August 2024 | Subject to the decision of Brighton & Hove City Council St Bartholomew’s and/or St Peters closes |
Questions about the proposed closures
Read questions and answers relating to the proposed school closures.